EXCLUSIVE: Zulum Leads Five Northern Governors to ADC as Adeleke Prepares APC Defection

…Plot to Remove Akpabio Thickens

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, is spearheading the defection of five northern governors to the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC), Spear News has learned.

The move signals a major shakeup in Nigeria’s political landscape as opposition forces consolidate against President Bola Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, is under intense pressure to join the movement, but contrary to expectations, he is reportedly finalizing plans to join the APC, a decision expected to be announced imminently.

It would be recalled that on May 15, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum led a protest after APC leaders endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election without including Vice President Kashim Shettima in the decision.

During a North-East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and National Vice Chairman (North-East) Comrade Mustapha Salihu publicly backed Tinubu for a second term but made no mention of Shettima.

The situation escalated when angry delegates protested the omission, forcing Ganduje and Salihu to leave the venue under tight security.

This incident has fueled suspicions that certain factions within the party may be working against President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The ADC, unveiled on July 2, 2025, as the new platform for Atiku Abubakar’s opposition coalition, is having the backing of some northern governors. Sources reveal that at least five serving governors from the North-East and North West have quietly aligned with the movement, with significant financial investments already made underground.

Notably, over 20 APC senators are actively involved in the coalition’s formation, working behind the scenes to weaken their own party’s structure.

“This is a strategic move to present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections,” a high ranking source within the coalition disclosed. “The goal is to weaken the APC’s dominance, especially in the North.”

Several ministers from the North serving in Tinubu’s administration have also been implicated in the plot, allegedly providing both financial and strategic support to the opposition movement while still holding their positions in the government.

However, not all northern states are on board. Niger and Kwara have notably resisted pressure to join or fund the coalition, signaling internal divisions within the region’s political bloc.

While the ADC gains traction in the North, Osun’s Governor Adeleke appears to be heading in the opposite direction. Despite his public denials, credible sources within his camp and the APC confirm that he is finalizing his defection to the ruling party.

In a statement on Saturday, Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, dismissed the rumors, insisting that the governor remains a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart.

Yet, insiders say Adeleke has been in closed door negotiations with APC leadership, and his switch could be announced as early as this weekend.

Amid the defection drama, Senate President Godswill Akpabio faces renewed threats of impeachment. Lawmakers allegedly working against him have intensified underground maneuvers, with more than 20 APC senators now involved in the plot.

The involvement of northern ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet has added a dangerous dimension to the conspiracy, suggesting deep fractures within the ruling party’s hierarchy.

Meanwhile as the plot to oust President Tinubu thickens, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called formed opposition coalition bluff, describing it as an “alliance of desperate power mongers and politically irrelevant elements.” Despite the dismissal, key APC governors from the North and South are intensifying efforts to consolidate support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign, signaling a strategic push to counter opposition forces ahead of the next election cycle.

In the South, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo is leading the charge, mobilising fellow Southern governors to rally behind Tinubu’s agenda.

Meanwhile, in the North, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has positioned himself as one of Tinubu’s most formidable allies, leveraging his influence to galvanize critical support. A recent closed-door meeting between Sani and key Northern governors, traditional rulers, and political kingmakers suggests a coordinated strategy to shore up Tinubu’s base in the region.